A late penalty save by goalkeeper Allan McGregor earned Rangers a 0-0 draw with Celtic in a tense Old Firm derby at Ibrox Stadium.
The result means Rangers remain on top of the Scottish Premier League table one place ahead of second placed Celtic. The Hoops have played one game less than Rangers and will win the SPL title if they win their remaining five games.
The buildup to the game included allegations of a letter bomb being sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon, and the atmosphere in the stands was sufficiently hostile in a frenetic opening period.
Rangers pushed forward early and Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster was forced to deal with two dangerous crosses in the opening minutes. American midfielder Maurice Edu also had an early attempt on goal but it was deflected wide off Charlie Mulgrew.
Celtic threatened at the other end and had penalty appeals waved away when Joe Ledley went down under apparent contact from Steven Whittaker.
The hostile atmosphere spilled onto the field in the 22nd minute when Celtic striker Georgios Samaras and Rangers defender David Weir were both booked for a heated physical exchange.
Despite a fast pace, the only chances of note for the remainder of the first half came when Scott Brown sent a long range drive wide for Celtic, and Steven Naismith skewed his chance wide after being released by Sasa Papac.
Rangers started the second half on the front foot and created a number of opportunities to break the deadlock. Weir headed over the bar from a Steven Davis corner, Naismith had a shot deflected wide and Kyle Lafferty missed the target after getting on the end of a Greg Wylde cross.
At the other end Beram Kayal drove wide for Celtic, and McGregor saved brilliantly from a Daniel Majstorovic header. McGregor also did well to tip an Emilio Izaguirre effort over the crossbar.
With seven minutes remaining, Celtic were handed a golden opportunity to win the game when Davis adjudged to have fouled Anthony Stokes and a penalty was awarded. Greek striker Samaras stepped up but his effort was pushed wide by a diving McGregor and the score remained 0-0.
Stokes went over in the area again but this time was booked for diving, and the whistle was blown on an entertaining stalemate soon after.
LINEUPS
RAN: McGregor, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Bougherra, Wylde (Fleck 73), Edu (Diouf 84), Davis, Lafferty, Naismith, Jelavic.
CEL: Forster, Izaguirre, Majstorovic, Wilson, Mulgrew, Brown, Ledley (Commons 55), Ki Sung-Yeung, Beram Kayal, Samaras, Hooper (Stokes 75).
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Allan McGregor (Rangers).
Attendance: 50,248.
The buildup to the game included allegations of a letter bomb being sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon, and the atmosphere in the stands was sufficiently hostile in a frenetic opening period.
Rangers pushed forward early and Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster was forced to deal with two dangerous crosses in the opening minutes. American midfielder Maurice Edu also had an early attempt on goal but it was deflected wide off Charlie Mulgrew.
Celtic threatened at the other end and had penalty appeals waved away when Joe Ledley went down under apparent contact from Steven Whittaker.
The hostile atmosphere spilled onto the field in the 22nd minute when Celtic striker Georgios Samaras and Rangers defender David Weir were both booked for a heated physical exchange.
Despite a fast pace, the only chances of note for the remainder of the first half came when Scott Brown sent a long range drive wide for Celtic, and Steven Naismith skewed his chance wide after being released by Sasa Papac.
Rangers started the second half on the front foot and created a number of opportunities to break the deadlock. Weir headed over the bar from a Steven Davis corner, Naismith had a shot deflected wide and Kyle Lafferty missed the target after getting on the end of a Greg Wylde cross.
At the other end Beram Kayal drove wide for Celtic, and McGregor saved brilliantly from a Daniel Majstorovic header. McGregor also did well to tip an Emilio Izaguirre effort over the crossbar.
With seven minutes remaining, Celtic were handed a golden opportunity to win the game when Davis adjudged to have fouled Anthony Stokes and a penalty was awarded. Greek striker Samaras stepped up but his effort was pushed wide by a diving McGregor and the score remained 0-0.
Stokes went over in the area again but this time was booked for diving, and the whistle was blown on an entertaining stalemate soon after.
LINEUPS
RAN: McGregor, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Bougherra, Wylde (Fleck 73), Edu (Diouf 84), Davis, Lafferty, Naismith, Jelavic.
CEL: Forster, Izaguirre, Majstorovic, Wilson, Mulgrew, Brown, Ledley (Commons 55), Ki Sung-Yeung, Beram Kayal, Samaras, Hooper (Stokes 75).
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Allan McGregor (Rangers).
Attendance: 50,248.
